House Republicans are clashing with each other over the passage of a $95 billion foreign aid bill for Ukraine and Israel.
Different groups within the House Republican Conference argued after the House passed four foreign aid bills through a simple majority vote, while a separate border security bill failed to reach the required two-thirds supermajority.
Rep. Andy Barr from Kentucky criticized fellow Republicans and Democrats for blocking a rule that would have allowed the border security bill to pass with a simple majority. In response, Rep. Warren Davidson from Ohio stated that the issue was due to the lack of leverage, not opposition to the rule.
A rule vote sets the terms for debate and a final vote on legislation. It is decided by a majority in the House Rules Committee, the last step before bills reach the House floor.
Conservative lawmakers were upset with Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to advance four foreign aid bills under one rule vote and a separate rule for a border security bill, arguing that it left Republicans without leverage to push the Senate.
Three conservative members joined Democrats in blocking the bill in the Rules Committee, forcing Johnson to increase the threshold for passage to two-thirds instead of a simple majority.
The border security bill failed, as no Democrats supported it.
Rep. Greg Murphy criticized GOP rebels for creating obstacles for media attention, while Rep. Chip Roy accused GOP leaders of attempting to provide “cover” for the separate border security bill.
Rep. Dan Bishop emphasized that GOP leadership had never proposed attaching border security measures to the Ukraine package. Instead, they set up a separate vote that the Senate could ignore.
Johnson himself dismissed the idea that he could force border security measures through the Democrat-controlled Senate and White House, telling Larry Kudlow that if he could close the border himself, he would have done it already.
The infighting reflects the deep divisions within Johnson’s GOP Conference.
House lawmakers are currently in their home districts, but when they return, GOP leaders will face challenges with a one-seat majority after the early departure of Rep. Mike Gallagher from Wisconsin.
